Human-machine interface for collaborative summarization of group conversations

Abstract

Technologies are disclosed for providing an improved human-machine interface for collaborative summarization of group conversations. The human-machine interface presents a group conversation. User input, such as a sequence of keystrokes or the selection of a graphic image, is received via the human-machine interface labeling an excerpt of the group conversation with a discourse act note corresponding to a discourse act. The discourse act note indicates that the excerpt specifies an action, an answer, a decision, an idea, a question, or another type of discourse act. The excerpt and the discourse act note are added to a summary of the group conversation. User input can also be received requesting to view the summary of the group conversation. In response thereto, the summary of the group conversation can be presented in the human-machine interface. The excerpts presented in the summary of the group conversation can be grouped by corresponding discourse acts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for providing a human-machine interface for collaborative summarization of a group conversation, the method comprising:
 presenting the group conversation in the human-machine interface;   receiving first user input by way of the human-machine interface, the first user input comprising a request to label an excerpt of the group conversation with a discourse act note corresponding to a discourse act;   responsive to receiving the first user input, adding the excerpt and the discourse act note to a summary of the group conversation;   receiving second user input by way of the human-machine interface, the second user input comprising a request to view the summary of the group conversation; and   responsive to receiving the second user input, presenting the summary of the group conversation in the human-machine interface.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the discourse act note indicates that the excerpt of the group conversation specifies an action, an answer, a decision, an idea, or a question. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user input comprises a sequence of keystrokes corresponding to the discourse act note or selection of a graphic image corresponding to the discourse act note. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user input is received prior to receiving the excerpt or following receipt of the excerpt. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein excerpts in the summary of the group conversation are grouped by a corresponding discourse act. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the summary of the group conversation can be edited, referenced, or sent to a second group conversation using the human-machine interface. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a third user input by way of the human-machine interface, the third user input for labeling a start of the group conversation; and   receiving a fourth user input by way of the human-machine interface, the fourth user input for labeling an end of the group conversation.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   at least one computer storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
 receive first user input by way of a human-machine interface, the first user input comprising a request to label an excerpt of a group conversation with a discourse act note; 
 responsive to receiving the first user input, adding the excerpt and the discourse act note to a summary of the group conversation; 
 receiving second user input by way of the human-machine interface, the second user input comprising a request to view the summary of the group conversation; and 
 responsive to receiving the second user input, present the summary of the group conversation in the human-machine interface. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the discourse act note indicates that the excerpt of the group conversation specifies an action, an answer, a decision, an idea, a custom discourse act, or a question. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first user input comprises a sequence of keystrokes corresponding to the discourse act note or selection of a graphic image corresponding to the discourse act note. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first user input is received following receipt of the excerpt. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein excerpts in the summary of the group conversation are grouped by a corresponding discourse act. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the summary of the group conversation can be edited, referenced, or sent to a second group conversation using the human-machine interface. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the human-machine interface provides controls for allowing a user to subscribe to receive a summary of a group conversation associated with a channel, subscribe to receive a summary of a group conversation from a participant in the channel, or subscribe to receive a summary of a group conversation associated with a topic. 
     
     
         15 . At least one computer storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
 receive first user input by way of a human-machine interface, the first user input comprising a request to tag an excerpt of a group conversation with a discourse act note corresponding to a discourse act;   adding the excerpt and the discourse act note to a summary of the group conversation;   receive a request to view the summary of the group conversation; and   present the summary of the group conversation in the human-machine interface.   
     
     
         16 . The at least one computer storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the discourse act note indicates that the excerpt of the group conversation specifies an action, an answer, a decision, an idea, or a question. 
     
     
         17 . The at least one computer storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first user input comprises a sequence of keystrokes corresponding to the discourse act note or a selection of a graphic image corresponding to the discourse act note. 
     
     
         18 . The at least one computer storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein excerpts in the summary of the group conversation are grouped by a corresponding discourse act. 
     
     
         19 . The at least one computer storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the summary of the group conversation can be edited, referenced, or sent to a second group conversation using the human-machine interface. 
     
     
         20 . The at least one computer storage medium of  claim 15 , having further computer executable instructions stored thereon to:
 receive third user input by way of the human-machine interface, the third user input labeling a start of the group conversation; and   receive fourth user input by way of the human-machine interface, the fourth user input labeling an end of the group conversation.